Friends and family are devastated after a 16-year-old girl died unexpectedly on the night of her end-of-year prom.

Lucy Goulding, from Ringmer Road, Worthing, was hoping to get straight A*s for her GCSEs, but was taken seriously ill at school and rushed to hospital for emergency surgery.

She died at Southampton General Hospital on Friday.

Chatsmore Catholic High School, where she had recently taken her GCSEs, cancelled the event after learning the tragic news.

Mother Antonella Goulding said: “She had such a full-on life, with so much to look forward to.

“She worked so hard and she didn't even have the chance to see the results or sit back and enjoy herself for one day. I didn't have the chance to celebrate finishing her exams with her either.

“She worked extremely hard. I'm not rich and she always understood if she wanted her own money, she had to work hard and get a job.”

Devastated pupils wore orange ribbons in tribute to the orange shoes Lucy was due to wear at her high-school prom.

Meanwhile friends, family and teachers gathered on Goring beach to set off balloons and Chinese lanterns into the evening sky.

Mrs Goulding said: “Her friends have done something so magical. Lucy once wrote a poem sticking up for teenagers, saying how they weren't all scum, and this proves she was absolutely right.

“She had such strong opinions and was never one to follow the crowd. She stood up for what she believed in and looked out for her friends.

The Argus:

“She was a very strong young lady who didn't enjoy partying or drinking, she was anti-smoking and anti-drugs.

“After finishing her GCSEs she was worried that she wouldn't have enough to do over the summer, she was so excited about starting college.”

Lucy was due to go to Chichester College to study business, English literature and classics.

The entrepreneurial pupil also loved baking and created her own cupcake business with a friend.

A statement on the school website said: “Our community is devastated at the news and trying to come to terms with such a tragic loss.”

She is survived by 12-year-old brother Sean and father Paul.

Tribute pages on Facebook have received thousands of likes from friends.

A funeral is due to take place at St Michaels High Salvington, Worthing, though a date has not yet been set.